2022 Flower City Union season
Flower City Union 2022 soccer season
| 2022 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | Jimmy Paola | ||
| Head coach | Zach Agliata (until May 2)[1] Colton Bly (interim) | ||
| Stadium | Marina Auto Stadium | ||
| NISA | 10th | ||
| NISA Playoffs | Did not qualify | ||
| U.S. Open Cup | Third round | ||
| Legends Cup | To be determined | ||
| Independent Cup | Northeast Champions | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: Canas-Jarquin (2) All: Fernandes (3) | ||
| Average home league attendance | 880 | ||
| Biggest win | 1–0 (vs. WMP (A), April 6, USOC) | ||
| Biggest defeat | 1–6 (vs. MBFC (A), April 2, NISA) | ||
| |||
2023 → | |||
The 2022 Flower City Union season was the club's first season of existence, and their first in the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA), the third tier of American soccer. The Union's season began on March 26, 2022, and concluded on October 10, 2022.
The Union finished at the bottom of the NISA table.
Background
The club's history begins in 2017, when the long-time professional soccer club in the Rochester metropolitan area, the Rochester Rhinos announced they were going on a hiatus beginning in 2018. The hiatus left the city without a professional soccer team for the first time since 19985, and left the city's soccer-specific stadium, Marina Auto Stadium, without a main tenant.
In 2020, a ownership group headed by David Weaver, the CEO and founder of Rochester-based Aphex BioCleanse Systems Inc. and a former Kodak optical engineer, submitted an application for a NISA team in Rochester.[2][3] Mark Washo, a former Chief Business Officer with the Rhinos was appointed as Managing Director and Chief Commercial Officer and the group later announced a partnership with St. John Fisher College’s Sport Management Department.[4]
On December 17, 2020, NISA approved the group's expansion application, and the following day, it was revealed that the club's name would be the Flower City Union, a nod to Rochester's nickname as the Flower City.[5][6] On April 14, 2021, the team logo and colors were introduced, the primary color being Lilac purple in honor of Rochester's signature flower.[7]
Club
Team management
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Owner |  Jimmy Paola |
| Vice Chairman | Mark Washo |
| Vice President of Business Operations | Andrew Hoyt |
| Director of Marketing | Nina Korn |
| Director of Corporate Partnerships | Casey Catlin |
| Director of Fan Engagement | Casey Catlin |
| Digital Coordinators | Ben Conrow Adam Drake |
| Operations Managers | Logan Adams Ryan Adams |
| Head coach | Jordan Sullivan |
| Assistant coach | Nelson Cupello |
| Goalkeeping coach |  Marcelo Moreira |
Roster
- As of April 29, 2022[10]
| No. | Name | Nationality | Position(s) | Date of birth (Age) | Apps | Goals | Assists | Signed from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | ||||||||
| 13 | Steven Ortiz |  | GK | (1999-12-01)December 1, 1999 (aged 22) | 0 | 0 | 0 |  Real Madriz |
| 18 | Maykell Ortega | | GK | (1998-04-01)April 1, 1998 (aged 24) | 0 | 0 | 0 | Miami United |
| Defenders | ||||||||
| 2 | Ben Watson | | RB | (1997-08-22)August 22, 1997 (aged 25) | 0 | 0 | 0 | Syracuse Pulse |
| 4 | Andriy Demydiv |  | DF | (1998-12-06)December 6, 1998 (aged 23) | 0 | 0 | 0 | Rochester Lancers |
| 5 | Nikkye De Point | | DF | (1998-09-10)September 10, 1998 (aged 24) | 0 | 0 | 0 | Oregon State University |
| 6 | Andrea Pregoni |  | CB, RB | (1999-01-04)January 4, 1999 (aged 23) | 0 | 0 | 0 |  Académica |
| 12 | Collin Muller | | DF | (1998-03-18)March 18, 1998 (aged 24) | 0 | 0 | 0 | West Chester United |
| 15 | Robert Williamson | | DF | (1997-08-28)August 28, 1997 (aged 25) | 0 | 0 | 0 | Harrisburg Heat |
Non-competitive
Flower City Union v Syracuse Pulse
| September 7 | Flower City Union | 0–6 | Syracuse Pulse | Rochester, NY |
| 8:30 p.m. EDT | Report | Stadium: Marina Auto Stadium |
Competitions
NISA
Standings
| Pos | Team
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California United Strikers FC | 21 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 35 | 12 | +23 | 46 | 2.19 | Qualification for the semi-finals |
| 2 | Chattanooga FC | 24 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 44 | 21 | +23 | 49 | 2.04 | |
| 3 | Michigan Stars FC | 23 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 27 | 15 | +12 | 38 | 1.65 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 4 | Albion San Diego | 20 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 28 | 23 | +5 | 32 | 1.60 | |
| 5 | Maryland Bobcats FC | 23 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 32 | 28 | +4 | 30 | 1.30 | |
| 6 | Syracuse Pulse | 22 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 26 | 32 | −6 | 25 | 1.14 | |
| 7 | Los Angeles Force | 20 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 31 | −17 | 14 | 0.70 | |
| 8 | Flower City Union | 23 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 13 | 57 | −44 | 9 | 0.39 |
Source: nisasoccer.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal differential; 3) goals scored; 4) head-to-head
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal differential; 3) goals scored; 4) head-to-head
Results summary
| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 21 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 13 | 54 | −41 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 23 | −17 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 31 | −24 |
Last updated: September 2, 2022.
Source: Flower City Union
Match results
Flower City Union v Syracuse Pulse
| March 26 1 | Flower City Union | 0–1 | Syracuse Pulse | Rochester, NY |
| 12:00 p.m. EDT | Saling  55'Brickman 71' | Report | Jackson  48'DaSilva  58'MacDonald 75' | Stadium: Marina Auto Stadium Attendance: 880[11] |
Maryland Bobcats v Flower City Union
| April 2 2 | Maryland Bobcats | 6–1 | Flower City Union | Boyds, MD |
| 4:00 p.m. EDT | Amo 13' Espinal 29'Solomon 56', 63'Amo 72'Brickman 90+2' (o.g.) | Report | Veerakone 17' Canas-Jarquin 58' | Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex Attendance: UNK Referee: Gary Gutierrez, Max Smith, Scarlet Agrawal, Steven Foster |
Flower City Union v Michigan Stars
| April 9 3 | Flower City Union | 0–3 | Michigan Stars | Rochester, NY |
| 12:00 p.m. EDT | Brickman 60' | Report | Firmino 32' Mujan 37'Constant 40'Firmino 54'Brickman 60'Zhongo 79' | Stadium: Marina Auto Stadium Attendance: UNK |
Flower City Union v Maryland Bobcats
| April 23 4 | Flower City Union | 0–1 | Maryland Bobcats | Rochester, NY |
| 3:00 p.m. EDT | Williamson 14' Kranick 57'Demydiv 78' | Report | Mason 9' Majano 19'Clegg 22'Espinal 29'Alvarado 73'González 90' | Stadium: Marina Auto Stadium Attendance: 477 |
Chattanooga FC v Flower City Union
| April 30 5 | Chattanooga FC | 0–1 | Flower City Union | Chattanooga, TN |
| 7:30 p.m. EDT | Gray 57' Robertson 66'Stripling 76' | Report | Deas 32' Fernandes 85' | Stadium: Finley Stadium Attendance: 3,260[12] |
Flower City Union v California United Strikers
| May 4 6 | Flower City Union | 1–2 | California United Strikers | Batavia, NY |
| 7:30 p.m. EDT | Canas-Jarquin 32' Lee 78' | Report | Nuño 36' Kadono 61'Treinen 62' | Stadium: Vandetta Stadium Attendance: 243 |
| Note: Match played at Vandetta Stadium, Batavia instead of the club's normal stadium, Marina Auto Stadium, Rochester, due to venue conflicts.[13] | ||||
Syracuse Pulse v Flower City Union
| May 8 7 | Syracuse Pulse | 3–1 | Flower City Union | Syracuse, NY |
| 7:00 p.m. EDT | Jackson 7' Kafari 32'Satrustegui 61'MacDonald 71' | Report | Ainscough 18' Fernandes 30'Kranick 42'Watson 64' | Stadium: Lazer Stadium |
Flower City Union v Maryland Bobcats
| May 14 8 | Flower City Union | 2–1 | Maryland Bobcats | Rochester, NY |
| 3:00 p.m. EDT | Sobers-Assue 32' Brickman 68'Canas-Jarquin 78'Ortega 89'Demydiv 90+1'Kranick 90+3' | Report | Boone 49' Gonzalez 82' | Stadium: Marina Auto Stadium Attendance: 717 |
Flower City Union v Chattanooga FC
| May 21 9 | Flower City Union | 1–5 | Chattanooga FC | Rochester, NY |
| 6:00 p.m. EDT | Veerakone 39' Sobers-Assue 74'Ortega 85' | Report | Naglestad 12', 34', 37', 86' (pen.) Cerro 14' | Stadium: Marina Auto Stadium |
California United Strikers v Flower City Union
| May 28 10 | California United Strikers | 1–0 | Flower City Union | Irvine, CA |
| 10:00 p.m. EDT | Thierjung 62' Kadono 75' | Report | Veerakone 9' Deas 23' | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
Bay Cities FC v Flower City Union
| June 1 11 | Bay Cities FC | 3–1 | Flower City Union | Redwood City, CA |
| 10:00 p.m. EDT | Paoli 9' Romero 38' (pen.)Penner 54' 69' | Report | Fernandes 45+2' 59' Sierra 78' | Stadium: Cañada College Soccer Field |
Flower City Union v Valley United
| June 4 12 | Flower City Union | 2–1 | Valley United | Rochester, NY |
| 7:00 p.m. EDT | Stadium: Marina Auto Stadium | |||
| Note: Result null and void after Valley United was expelled by the league. | ||||
Michigan Stars v Flower City Union
| June 11 13 | Michigan Stars | 3–0 | Flower City Union | Romeo, MI |
| 7:00 p.m. EDT | Mkuruva 14' Juncaj 22', 47'Marić 66' | Report | Stadium: Romeo Stadium |
Flower City Union v LA Force
| June 15 14 | Flower City Union | 0–3 | LA Force | Rochester, NY |
| 7:30 p.m. EDT | De Point 82' | Report | Rivas Jr. 7' 21' McLaughlin 17' 90'Goñi 59' | Stadium: Marina Auto Stadium |
Flower City Union v Albion San Diego
| June 18 15 | Flower City Union | 2–2 | Albion San Diego | Rochester, NY |
| 7:00 p.m. EDT | Lee 16' Ainscough 34'Saling 49'Fernandes 90+1' | Report | Diakhate 15' Pelaez 41'Hanson 69'Malango 87'Bazaes 90+6' | Stadium: Marina Auto Stadium |
Michigan Stars v Flower City Union
| July 3 16 | Michigan Stars | 0–0 | Flower City Union | Romeo, MI |
| 7:00 p.m. EDT | McCloud 30' | Report | Lee 71' Deas 77' | Stadium: Romeo Stadium |
Syracuse Pulse v Flower City Union
| July 8 17 | Syracuse Pulse | 4–0 | Flower City Union | Syracuse, NY |
| 7:00 p.m. EDT | Stadium: Lazer Stadium |
Flower City Union v Chattanooga FC
| July 16 18 | Flower City Union | 0–5 | Chattanooga FC | Rochester, NY |
| EDT | Stadium: Marina Auto Stadium |
Maryland Bobcats v Flower City Union
| August 13 19 | Maryland Bobcats | 5–0 | Flower City Union | Boyds, ND |
| 7:00 p.m. EDT | Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex |
Flower City Union v Syracuse Pulse
| August 20 20 | Flower City Union | 0–2 | Syracuse Pulse | Rochester, NY |
| 6:00 p.m. EDT | Stadium: Marina Auto Stadium |
Albion San Diego v Flower City Union
| August 27 21 | Albion San Diego | 2–1 | Flower City Union | San Diego, CA |
| 9:00 p.m. EDT | Stadium: Canyon Crest Stadium |
LA Force v Flower City Union
| August 31 22 | LA Force | 2–2 | Flower City Union | Wilmington, CA |
| 10:00 p.m. EDT | Stadium: Casey Field |
Flower City Union v Bay Cities FC
| September 7 23 | Flower City Union | — | Bay Cities FC | Rochester, NY |
| 8:30 p.m. EDT | Stadium: Marina Auto Stadium | |||
| Note: Match canceled after Bay Cities FC withdrew from the league. | ||||
Chattanooga FC v Flower City Union
| September 24 24 | Chattanooga FC | v | Flower City Union | Chattanooga, TN |
| 7:30 p.m. EDT | Stadium: Finley Stadium |
Flower City Union v Michigan Stars
| October 10 25 | Flower City Union | v | Michigan Stars | Rochester, NY |
| 3:00 p.m. EDT | Stadium: Marina Auto Stadium |
U.S. Open Cup
Western Mass Pioneers (USL2) 
v 
Flower City Union (NISA)
v 
Flower City Union (NISA) | April 6 Second round | Western Mass Pioneers (USL2) | 0–1 (a.e.t.) | Flower City Union (NISA) | Ludlow, MA |
| 4:30 p.m. EDT | Gutiérrez 23' Matera 81'Freitas 114' | Report | Veerakone 81' Fernandes 94'Micheletti 110' | Stadium: Lusitano Stadium Attendance: 363 Referee: Jeremy Scheer |
Flower City Union (NISA) v 
D.C. United (MLS)
v 
D.C. United (MLS) | April 19 Third round | Flower City Union (NISA) | 0–3 | D.C. United (MLS) | Rochester, NY |
| 7:30 p.m. EDT | Ortega 85' | Report | Kamara 73', 86' (pen.) Robertha 81' | Stadium: Marina Auto Stadium Attendance: 556 Referee: Luis Arroyo |
NISA Independent Cup
Flower City Union (NISA) v 
NJ Alliance (NISAN)
v 
NJ Alliance (NISAN) | June 25 First round | Flower City Union (NISA) | 2–0 | NJ Alliance (NISAN) | Rochester, NY |
| TBD EDT | Report | Stadium: Mariana Auto Stadium |
Statistics
Appearances and goals
Numbers after plus-sign(+) denote appearances as a substitute.[14]
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | NISA | NISA Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup | Legends Cup | Independent Cup | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| 1 | GK | USA | Russell Robles | 3 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | USA | Ben Watson | 5 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | MF | USA | Alex Ainscough | 15 | 0 | 10+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | UKR | Andriy Demydiv | 9 | 0 | 6+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | USA | Nikkye De Point | 11 | 0 | 10+0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | ITA | Andrea Pregoni | 3 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | MF |  KOR | Jay Yun Lee | 10 | 1 | 4+5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | FW |  PUR | Jordan Saling | 14 | 0 | 9+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | USA | Arion Sobers-Assue | 10 | 1 | 6+4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | USA | Giancarlo Canas-Jarquin | 13 | 3 | 10+1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | COL | Jose Sierra | 6 | 0 | 4+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | DF | USA | Colin Muller | 13 | 0 | 10+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | COL | Steven Ortiz | 3 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | MF |  BAH | Quinton Carey | 6 | 0 | 0+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | USA | Robert Williamson | 3 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | FW | USA | Hunter Kassel | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | GK | NCA | Maykell Ortega | 10 | 0 | 8+0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | USA | Suniel Veerakone | 16 | 1 | 13+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | MF | USA | Ozlo Rigby | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | DF | USA | Mitchell Brickman | 11 | 0 | 9+0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | FW | USA | Lukas Fernandes | 15 | 4 | 12+1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2+0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | POR | Marcus Micheletti | 9 | 0 | 5+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | MF |  ENG | Jordan Sullivan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 42 | FW | USA | Dre Deas | 15 | 0 | 10+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 82 | FW | USA | Ryan Curtis | 5 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 88 | FW | USA | Auston Kranick | 14 | 0 | 12+0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 16 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
- Last updated: July 3, 2022
- Source: NISA
References
- ^ "Agliata Resigns, Bly as Interim". flowercityunion.com. May 2, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
- ^ Lewis, Michael (November 11, 2020). "MORE NISA EXPANSION?: Sources: Rochester group submits application to join league". www.frontrowsoccer.com. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ "#118 - From Kodak Layoff - To Creating 50 New Millionaires - David Weaver". www.audacy.com. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ "Rochester group bringing pro soccer back to the Flower City". Rochester First. November 25, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ "NISA Rochester is now Flower City Union". Protagonist Soccer. December 18, 2020. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
- ^ "They're In: NISA approves Rochester's application". frontrowsoccer.com. December 17, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
- ^ "New logo revealed for Rochester's next pro soccer team". WROC-TV. Nexstar Media. April 15, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
- ^ "Front Office". Flower City Union. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
- ^ "Technical Staff | Coaches". Flower City Union. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
- ^ "Roster | Flower City Union". flowercityunion.com. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
- ^ @FlowerCityUnion (March 29, 2022). "🏟 Attendance of our first ever match. Unbelievable. Y'all rock, even in the cold! 🥶 Hopefully warmer weather lies ahead! 😎" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Henderson, Jed (April 30, 2022). "Match Recap: Chattanooga FC vs Flower City Union". chattanoogafc.com. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
- ^ Flower City Union [@FlowerCityUnion] (April 27, 2022). "🚨 MATCH UPDATE! Due to venue conflicts our next home match will be played at 📍Vandetta Stadium in Batavia, NY. Tickets will be General Admission for $10. Come out & watch us take on Cal United Strikers FC on May 4th at 7:30PM! 🎟 Tickets available on our website!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Player Stats". nisasoccer.com. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
External links
- Flower City Union
